Multiple purpose mailing piece



y 8, 1965 s. B. HUBBARD 3,184,150

MULTIPLE PURPOSE MAILING PIECE Filed March 28, 1963 FIG. 2

FIG. 4 FIG. 5

TO OPEN H 1 h TEAR OFF INVENTOR SAMUEL B. HUBBARD BY A).

ATTORNEY United States Patent MUL'IWLE PURPIBSE MAILING PIECE Samuel B. Hubbard, 3025 Taylor St., Dallas, Tex. Filed Mar. 28, 1963, der. No. 268,783 2 (Ilaims. (Cl. 22973) This invention relates to a mailing piece and, more particularly, to an envelope structure which will provide for two-way communication and more particularly a structure in which end sealing is maintained at all times.

In order for automation equipment to accommodate mailing pieces, it is necessary that the lead and trailing edges of the mailing pieces be maintained sealed. At the same time it is desirable to provide a single mailing piece which can be employed for communication from the first party to a second party and further to accommodate the return communication.

The present invention is particularly suitable for such use and provides an economic and yet wholly satisfactory manner of accomplishing this end.

More particularly in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mailing piece which includes a rectangular blank adapted to be folded at each of a plurality of lateral fold lines which divide the blank into a plurality of panels of substantially equal configuration. Adhesive means is provided along the opposite edges of all but one of the panels along marginal zones perpendicular to the fold lines. Adhesive means is then provided on a second panel adjacent said one panel along edge zones adjacent to said marginal zones but extending inwardly thereof, the blank being perforated along the confronting boundaries of the adhesive zones. A third panel adjacent said second panel is provided with adhesive in a zone extending parallel to the fold line for closure thereof.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates an envelope blank provided in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the blank of FIGURE 1 having a first fold to form a return envelope pocket;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the blank of FIGURE 1 completely closed and sealed for a first mailing;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the envelope of FIGURE 3 trimmed for return mail and open to receive a communication therein; and

FIGURE 5 illustrates the sealed return envelope.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an elongated, rectangular blank It) which is adapted to be folded transversely as along lines 11, 12 and 13. Lines 11, 12 and 13 divide the blank into four panels 1 .4, 15, 16 and 17. The blank 10 is perforated along lines 18a and 19a to permit the marginal edges to be torn off. Adhesive zones 13 and 19 are provided on each of panels 1d, 15 and 16, extending along the marginal zones outside of the lines Ida and 1%, respectively. Inner adhesive zones 26 and 2t are provided on panel 16 parallel to lines 18a and EM. A final closure adhesive zone 22 is provided on the lower margin of panel 15 adjacent to the fold line 12.

The panel thus devised is suitable for use as a dual mailing piece, namely, it is folded to form a first mailing piece from a first party to a second party by first completing an adhesive bond between the adhesive zones Zil and 21 of the marginal zones 18 and 19 along the extent of the panel 16. This has been done in FIGURE 2, showing the panel 17 overlying panel 16. It will be noted that panel 17 is slightly shorter in length than panel 16 so that the upper edge of panel 16 shows above the edge of panel 17 and below the fold line 12. The panels 16 and 17 are glued together over the length of panel 17 in both of the zones A and B.

Further, to prepare the piece for mailing from the first party to the second party, the zones 15a, 15b on panel 15 and zones 14a, 14b on panel 14 are adhesively secured as the blank is folded first along fold line 12 and then along fold line 11. The resulting envelope is illustrated in FIGURE 3. It will be noted that the perforated tear lines 18a and 19:: appear along the margin.

When the envelope of FIGURE 3 is received by the second party, the envelope is opened by tearing along lines 18a and 19a. A suitable legend, such as TO OPEN, TEAR OFF, is applied with arrows leading to each of the perforated lines 18:: and 19a. After the envelope of FIGURE 3 is treated by tearing along lines 18a and 19a and along a perforated line 22a, the envelope as illustrated in FIGURE 4 is then ready for use by the second party for a return communication. It will be noted that the envelope remaining after tearing along lines 18a and 19a is sealed along the marginal zones by the adhesive zones 29 and 21. Thus, the perforated lines 18a and 1% separate the material at a point midway of the sealed zones A and B of FIGURE 2.

The second party may then place the communication in the envelope and fold the same along fold line 12;, actuating the adhesive in zone 22 so that a completely sealed envelope, such as shown in FIGURE 5, is ready for return.

It will be noted that in all cases, in transit in both directions, complete edge closure is maintained. The upper edge of the first panel 14 has been shown as having an adhesive zone Me. This zone, preferably of a readily openable adhesive, may be employed if desired. However, this provision may be eliminated. The edge of the panel 14 can be either sealed or freed, depending upon the desires of the party using the same. However, in contrast with this possibility, there is assurance that at all times the edges will be maintained sealed so that the mailing piece may be handled by automated equipment. Further, the conversion from first use to second use is accomplished by simply tearing along lines 18a and 1%.

It will be appreciated that a mailing piece may not require all of the four panels illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, four panels are often desired where a message such as a request for a contribution or the like is to be conveyed to the second party. Where this is not necessary, the panel 14- may be omitted and part of panel 15 may be omitted. Panel 15 may terminate at the line 22a if it is desired to place a separate insert in the en velope as dispatched by the first party, If desired, additional panels may be extended from the upper end of panel I4- so that a message of any desired volume may be conveyed. In such case, the adhesive zones 18 and 19 will extend along the mar inal edges of all but the bottom panel 17.

Having described the invention in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that further modifications may now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Means for forming a multi-purpose mailing piece which is characterized by (a) a rectangular blank having parallel tear perforations extending along lines adjacent to two opposed edges of said blank and further having fold lines transverse to said perforations at at least two substantially equally spaced points to provide first and second face panels,

(11) flap means secured to the second of said face panels and including adhesive means extending thereacross along a line parallel to the edge of said second facepanel opposite said first face panel,

(c) adhesive zones extending the length of said blank except for the first face panel in the zone outside 7 said perforations, and

(d) adhesive zones extending parallel to said perforations inside said perforations extending the length of said second face panel.

2. Means for forming a multi-purpose mailing piece which is characterized by (a) a rectangular blank having parallel tear lines extending the length of said blank spaced inwardly of two opposed edges thereof and further having at least two fold lines transverse to said tear lines substantially equally spaced to delineate first and second face panels,

(b) a flap secured to the second of said face panels including a plurality of panels successively longer said plurality of panels being perforated to form extensions therealong of said tear lines on said blank and having adhesive means extending thereacross in a zone of limited width adjacent to the edge of said second face panel opposite said first face panel,

(0) adhesive zones extending the length of said blank except for the first face panel in the zone outside said tear lines, and a a (d) adhesive zones of limited width extending parallel and adjacent to said tear lines insides said tear lines extending the length of said second face panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

3/18 Moore 229-92.? 2 

2. MEANS FOR FORMING A MULTI-PURPOSE MAILING PIECE WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY (A) A RECTANGULAR BLANK HAVING PARALLEL TEAR LINES EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF SAID BLANK SPACE INWARDLY OF TWO OPPOSED EDGES THEREOF AND FURTHER HAVING AT LEAST TWO FOLD LINES TRANSVERSE TO SAID TEAR LINES SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY SPACED TO DELINEATE FIRST AND SECOND FACE PANELS, (B) A FLAP SECURED TO THE SECOND OF SAID FACE PANELS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PANELS SUCCESSIVELY LONGER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE SECOND OF SAID FACE PANELS, SAID PLURALITY OF PANELS BEING PERFORATED TO FORM EXTENSIONS THEREALONG OF SAID TEAR LINES ON SAID BLANK AND HAVING ADHESIVE MEANS EXTENDING THEREACROSS IN A ZONE OF LIMITED WIDTH ADJACENT TO THE EDGE OF SAID SECOND FACE PANEL OPPOSITE SAID FIRST FACE PANEL, (C) ADHESIVE ZONES EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF SAID BLANK EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST FACE PANEL IN THE ZONE OUTSIDE SAID TEAR LINES, AND (D) ADHESIVE ZONES LIMITED WIDTH EXTENDING PARALLEL AND ADJACENT TO SAID TEAR LINES INSIDES SAID TEAR LINES EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF SAID SECOND FACE PANEL. 